Draft-equalizer



(No Model.)

0. W. PHELPS. DRAFT EQUALIZER.

Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. r

CHARLES \V. PHELPS, OF MYGATTS CORNERS, \VISCONSIN.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,497, dated August 20, 1889.

Application filed May 23, 1889.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. PHELPS, of Mygatt-s Corners, in the county of Racine, and in the State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to draft-equalizers; and it consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts, to be hereinafter described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan View, partially in horizontal section, of my device adjusted for two horses; Fig. 2, a like view showing the device adjusted for three horses; Figs. 3 and 4, vertical transverse sections of said device, and Fig. 5 a plan view of that form of my device preferably employed in connection with a one-horse vehicle.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A represents a beam designed for connection with the tongue or shafts of a vehicle or other device to which a draft-equalizer is applicable.

That form of my device illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 is designed to be connected to a tongue or draft-bar by means of a bolt or pin passed through the central opening 1), formed by a recess in the front edge of the beam A, and a concavity in a stay-plate B, secured to said edge of the beam. That form of my device shown by Fig. 5 is designed to be secured to the cross-bar between shafts of a vehicle by means of bolts passed through openings c i that come on opposite sides of the center of are turned over to form trace-hooks c, and

Serial No. 311,816. (No model.)

adjacent to these hooks said spring-plates bear against bolts or rivets f, that also serve to unite the straps E, this construction being best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4:.

As shown by Fig. 1, my device is adjusted for the attachment of two horses, and the clips D come in the center of the leaf-springs C. Now, the draw on the spring-plates F will be against the leaf-springs C, and as the latter are straightened the resistance to the draft increases. If a horse pulls stronger on one side than the other, the adjacent end of the corresponding leaf-spring will be proportionately stiffened to increase the resistance and therebyequalize the draft, while at the same time if one horse pulls stronger than his mate the resistance of the corresponding leaf-spring will compensate for the uneven strain and proportion the draft so that both horses pull evenly against the load.

To adjust the device for three horses, as is illustrated by Fig. 2, the clips D are loosened and leaf-springs O and spring-plates F moved outward on the beam A, while at the same time said clips are so adjusted toward the center of said beam that the inner ends of said leaf-springs are stiffened.

Sheave-blocks G are connected to the tracehooks on the innermost ends of the springplates F, and through these blocks are run short chains or tugs ll, tugs I being also connected to the trace-hooks on the outermost ends of said spring-plates in order to even the trace-connections. The traces of the center horse are hitched to the inner ends of the tugs H, and the traces of the side horses are connected to the outer ends of said tugs and to the tugs I.

By the above description it will be seen that where two horses have their opposing traces coupled to the same tug the stiffness of the adjacent spring-plate is such that the resistance is increased in proportion to the draft, while at the same time the resistance is correspondingly lessened at the outer ends of the device where the draft is the lightest.

That form of my device shown by Fig. 5 differs only from what is shown in the preceding figures in that a non-sectional springplate F is employed, spiral springs J substi- IOO tuted for the leaf-springs C, and the beam A designed for rigid connection with the crossbar between shafts of a vehicle. Near each end the beam is bored out to receive a flanged socket K, that rests against a stay-plate L, secured to the front edge of said beam. A spring J is inserted in the socket in opposition to a head g on a rod M, that passes through said plates, the parts being held in this relation by means of a nut 72, on said rod.

Now, if a horse hitched to the latter form of my device pulls stronger on one side than on the other, the resistance of the adjacent spiral spring equalizes the draft.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A draft-equalizer comprising a beam, a spring-plate secured in front of the beam and provided with trace-connections, and a spring device connected to the ends of the spring-plate to exert resistance to draft thereon, substantially as set forth.

2. A draft-equalizer comprising a beam, sectional spring-plates secured in front of the beam on opposite sides of the center and provided with trace-connections, and a spring device connected to the ends of each springplate to exert resistance to draft thereon, substantially as set forth.

3. A draft-equalizer comprising a beam, spring-plates arranged in front of the beam and provided with trace-connections, leafsprings arranged to bear against the rear of the beam and connected to the ends of the spring-plates, and clips for uniting said beam, plates, and springs, substantially as set forth.

4:. A draft-equalizer comprising a beam, spring-plates secured in front of the beam on opposite sides of the center and provided with trace-connections, leaf-springs arranged to bear against the rear of the beam, straps united to the leaf-springs and arranged above and below said beam, and bolts or rivets uniting the straps in front of the springplates, substantially as set forth.

5. A draft-equalizer comprising a beam, spring-plates adjustably secured in front of the beam on opposite sides of the center, leaf-springs arranged to bear against the rear of the beam and be adjustable with the spring-plates, straps united to said leafsprings and arranged above and below said beam, bolts or rivets uniting the straps in front of the spring-plates, sheave-blocks connected to the inner ends of the spring-plates, tugs run through the blocks, and other tugs connected to the outer ends of the said springplates, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto setmy hand, at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of \Visconsin, in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES W. PHELPS.

\Vitnesses:

A. CARY JUDD, EDWARD A. BIsHoP. 

